Niamh Smyth
Question:238. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances under which a person can access rent supplement and or HAP when they are not on a local authority housing list. [38385/21]
View answerWednesday, 14 July 2021
Questions (238)
Written answers
Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 17,700 active recipients at the end of June 2021.
The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
To qualify for Rent Supplement, an officer must be satisfied that, at the time of application, the claimant was previously in receipt of a rent supplement payment within 12 months of the date of application; or was residing in private rented accommodation, where at the commencement of the tenancy the person could have reasonably afforded the rent, and has experienced a substantial change in his or her circumstances.
Whether a person is on the housing list or not does not affect supplement entitlement. However, where a person is not eligible for the scheme generally they are referred to their local housing authority to have their housing needs assessed and, if successful, would be placed on the housing list.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is administered by Local Authorities. Policy relating to the qualifying conditions for access to HAP is a matter for the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.